Under what condition does the Rhode Island Addendum apply to the Bumble Roofing Franchise Agreement?
Bumble_Roofing Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
RHODE ISLAND ADDENDUM TO FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
To the extent the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act, R.I. Gen. Law ch. 395 §§19-28.1-1 – 19- 28.1-34 applies, the terms of this Addendum apply.
Item 17, Additional Disclosure. The following statement is added to Item 17:
Section 19-28.1-14 of the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act provides that: "A provision in a franchise agreement restricting jurisdiction or venue to a forum outside this state or requiring the application of the laws of another state is void with respect to a claim otherwise enforceable under this Act."
RHODE ISLAND ADDENDUM TO FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
To the extent the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act, R.I. Gen. Law ch. 395 §§19-28.1-1 – 19- 28.1-34 applies, the terms of this Addendum apply.
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 43–45)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bumble Roofing's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Rhode Island Addendum applies to the Franchise Agreement to the extent that the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act, R.I. Gen. Law ch. 395 §§19-28.1-1 – 19- 28.1-34, is applicable. This means that if the laws outlined in the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act are relevant to the franchise agreement, then the terms of the addendum will also apply.
This addendum also includes a specific addition to Item 17 of the Franchise Disclosure Document, referencing Section 19-28.1-14 of the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act. This section stipulates that any provision in the franchise agreement that restricts jurisdiction or venue to a location outside of Rhode Island, or requires the application of laws from another state, is void with respect to any claim enforceable under the Act.
For a prospective Bumble Roofing franchisee in Rhode Island, this means that certain clauses in the standard franchise agreement may be superseded by Rhode Island law. Specifically, the franchisee cannot be forced to litigate disputes outside of Rhode Island or be subjected to laws of another state if those stipulations conflict with the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act. This provides an added layer of protection for franchisees operating within Rhode Island, ensuring that local laws and regulations take precedence in certain legal and jurisdictional matters.